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 Most
maps produced today are electronic, dynamic, and often ephemeral
-- with millions of maps generated on the web each day. At the
same time, computer graphics technologies developed to enable
scientific visualization generally, are being adapted and extended
for applications with geographic information. The goal of this
course is to provide students with both the conceptual understanding
and practical experience needed to design effective dynamic representations
and assess their effectiveness.
During
the term we will explore the potential and implications of recent
advances in cartography, exploratory data analysis, and information
visualization as they relate to the theory and practice of geographic
visualization (geovisualization). A key focus of the course is
on "dynamic" representations of geographically referenced
information. Dynamic representations are those that change as
a result of user actions or data updates. Topics include: animated
and interactive maps, exploratory multivariate spatial data analysis,
geovisualization to support knowledge construction, interactive
web maps, navigation aids for real and virtual worlds, map-enabled
decision-support, collaborative geovisualization, dynamic maps
to enable learning, semiotic principles for design of dynamic
maps and related geovisualization tools, and perceptual/cognitive
issues in dynamic geo-representation (including methods for studying
the success of visual displays and interaction devices).
As
a writing intensive course, particular attention will be given
to writing for geographic information science (GIScience). This
writing will include laboratory project reports, reviews of published
literature, and a term project.
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